The Phase-Relations In The Quasi-Binary System Libaf3-Alf3 - A Search For New Fluoride Laser Hosts

In a search for new fluoride laser host materials (esp. with an Al site for Cr3+ doping) the phase relations in the join LiBaF3-AlF3 of the ternary concentration diagram LiF-BaF2-AlF3 were investigated by difference thermal analysis method from 15 samples with different compositions. A new congruently melting compound LiBaAlF6 (T(m) = 785-degrees-C) was found. The alpha-beta-phase transformation at 671-degrees-C prevents the growth of beta-LiBaAlF6 single crystals from the own melt and the application to laser technology.